James M. Ratcliff, 80, of Savannah, died Wednesday May 4, 2005, at St. Joseph's Hospital. Mr. Ratcliff was born in Leola, Arkansas, and lived in several areas before moving to Savannah, GA., in 1981. He was a member of White Bluff United Methodist Church, a member of Arlington Lodge #438, F & A.M's, in Arlington, TX.

He served as a Radioman in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during WWII, on the Island of Saipan in the Pacific in hostile action against the Empire of Japan. He was a Production Scheduler for Bell Helicopter, and he was in the original meeting to build the Cobra Helicopter. This was a Company Secret, not a government project, and from the original meeting, they were flying the Cobra Helicopter in eight months.

He retired from Gulfstream Aerospace where he served as an Industrial Engineer for eight years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lou Nell Ratcliff, of 13 years, who passed away in 1959. Mr. Ratcliff is survived by his wife of forty five years, Doris Ratcliff; three sons and daughters in law, Brian and Angel Ratcliff of Savannah, GA., Kenneth and Ginger Ratcliff of Clinton TWP, MI., and Jimmy L. and Dora Ratcliff of Coppell, TX.; four daughters and sons in law, Christine and John Kindschi of Austin, TX., Barbara and Larry Muller of Sterling Heights, Mi., Virginia(Vicki) and Jerry Owen of Roanoke Rapids, N.C. and Darla and Mark Dixon of Snellville, GA.; one brother, Von Ratcliff of Shallowater, TX.; one sister, Wilma Donohoe of Denison, TX; twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.